Riley foundation official discusses recent donations

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Daily Reporter staff reports

HANCOCK COUNTY — Kate Bonner, associations and radiothon coordinator for the Riley Children’s Foundation, recently spoke to the Kiwanis about the child life program and the Kiwanis support for Riley Hospital for Children.

The Child Life program seeks to minimize the stress and anxiety children often experience by using therapeutic and art activities.

Activities include bedside activities, child life playrooms on each floor, pre-surgery programs, comfort and distraction during painful procedures, educational programs, special art and music programs, and holiday celebrations.

Kiwanis has been a part of the hospital, since 1919 when the Indiana Kiwanis District began fundraising for the hospital. When the hospital opened in 1924, 1,200 children were treated.

In 2013, more than 300,000 children received care. One hundred and thirty-nine children from Hancock County received inpatient treatment in 2013, and 2,330 received outpatient services in that same year.

Kiwanis raised $150,000 in 1929 to build the Kiwanis K-wing. In 1958 the Kiwanis Diagnostic and Outpatient Center opened. In 1975, the K-wing was remodeled. In 1991 the Indiana District made a $1 million pledge.

In 2004 the Kiwanis’ first Mobile Intensive Care Unit was placed in service. In 2009, Kiwanis pledged $1 million for the “Path to a Cure” for diabetes research. In 2013, Kiwanians pledged $450,000 to support the Child Life program.

Locally, Greenfield Kiwanis has contributed more than $5,000 each year for the past three years to Riley in addition to private contributions from Kiwanis members.

For more information on giving to Riley, go to rileykids.org.

For more information about Greenfield Kiwanis, go to greenfieldinkiwanis.org.